When a picnic is mentioned, what is the first thing that enters your head? Is it the land and the views that are going to hit you? Is it the thought of tucking in to the fruits of your labour and eating the food? Or possibly it is the idea that when settled, you can look forward to a lovely glass of wine? The truth is that it is a little of all of these. Not only are you going to be outside, which is great for your health. You are probably going to be eating healthy fresh food, made at home by yourself.

So what is the best wine to take on a picnic? It is to me a matter of taste, and also whether it is possible to keep the wine sufficiently chilled. If you haven’t anything to hand, go for a light red like a Fitou, or a classic Chianti. This red always goes down nicely with a little bit of strong cheese. I am married to a Spaniard, so we are never short of something delicious like a Manchego, which is similar to cheddar. With a good bottle of wine, should be glassware. Is it a good idea to be taking glassware along with you to use on the picnic? It is heavy to carry, and usually gets broken. Many times I like to take the plastic glasses, which are strong but weigh little. There sometimes can be a loss of taste, which is the trade off the consider. I like wine glasses because of the shapes that suit different sorts of wine. A red wine glass tends to be large and spacious to allow the flavor to circulate. A white wine glass is generally smaller, to accommodate a more subtle flavour.

Whatever is your choice, just remember to have a good time and forget the weight of everyday life.